Valentine Hummus - Beets and Garlic

Raise your hand if you have never cooked with beets!
Raise your hand if you've never bought a beet before!
Raise your hand if your idea of beets are those cold slices no one touches at a salad bar!
Raise your hand if you would have no idea what to do if someone gave you a beet!
Raise your hand if you don't know what a raw beet looks like!

If you were like me a year ago, you probably had your hand in the air continuously. I used to think beets were horrible, nasty red slices that no one in their right mind would touch. Though it took quite some time, I finally got over my fear of those "earthy blood-filled balls of poop". Yes, that really is what I called them the first time I bought one at the store out of curiosity.

Oh, before I continue...Here is a picture of raw beets for those who had their hand raised till the very end :)

Let's carry on and get to making this delicious beet hummus!

Never have I ever been so frightened about cooking a vegetable. Major rookie mistake: I peeled the beets without gloves. My hands were stained pink for an entire day. Luckily I didn't have some fancy event or a doctors appointment that day so I got away with explaining my fuchsia hands to just Hubbs and a 2 year old. So now before you get all excited about beets, take my advice and grab some disposable gloves and work on a plastic/glass cutting board.

Once you get over the initial shock of using beets, they become quite fun to work with and the taste grows on you.  Though I must admit I'm still not a fan of cold beets, I've found other great ways to use this wonderful vegetable. Plus if you make them the right way, your kids will even eat beets! I can't even begin to describe (plus I don't have the time! #2 has started crawling everywhere!!) all the wonderful health benefits of beets so I'll just show you this Beet Nutrition Info Link.

I do have to add that this beet hummus is DELICIOUS! When I placed it on the table #1 thought it looked like strawberry ice cream. When I told him it was just pink hummus he got all excited and wanted to eat it right away. Hubbs and #1 wouldn't stop eating it and I wished I had secretly hidden most of it from them.
I'm planning on making this for Valentine's day again. The color makes it look like it should taste sweet but the garlic gives it a perfect kick. So move over chocolate, I want to eat this sexy hummus with Hubbs this Valentine's Day. Nothing screams I love you like two lovers kissing with garlic on their breath :)

5 from 1 vote

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Valentine Hummus - Beets and Garlic

Course Gluten free, Vegan

Prep Time 20 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Author Vanessa @VeganFamilyRecipes.com

Ingredients

• 1 small Beet peeled, diced and steamed
• 1 cup Chickpeas rinsed and drained from can or cooked
• 2 large cloves of Garlic
• 2 tablespoons Tahini
• 1 ½ teaspoons Lemon Juice
• ¾ teaspoon Salt
• 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
• 2 tablespoons Water

Instructions

1. Steam diced beet for about 15 minutes. Beets are ready when you can easily pierce them through the center with a fork. Allow beets to cool to touch.
2. Place all ingredients into a food processor or blender. Blend until creamy.
3. Serve with bread and enjoy :)

Recipe Notes

1) I like to add water to hummus. This gives it a nice fluffy consistency. Feel free to use less water/ more olive oil to suit your liking. 2) If you do not have a way to steam beets, you may also boil them in water. You will lose more nutrients as well as color but the taste should still be there. 3) You can also buy ready-to-use peeled and steamed beets at some grocery stores like Trader Joe's in the refrigerated produce section. I don't recommend using canned beets.